Injured Johnson gets last ‘start’ of career at Ohio

Ricardo Johnson thought Ohio University’s game against Kent State would be a typical night in the Convocation Center for him. He wasn’t going to play — a broken leg has kept him out of every Mid-American Conference game — but he would be front and center for a pregame meeting and get the usual case of the nerves.

It was senior day on March 1, the final home game in the regular season, and Johnson thought he would wave to the crowd from the bench and take a seat to watch the game.

Coach Jim Christian had other ideas. It has been his policy that every senior, from the star player to the last man on the bench, plays during his final home game.

Johnson, a senior guard-forward from Covington, Ky., was left speechless when Christian told him to suit up. He would start one last game.

“I had no idea that would happen,” Johnson said. “We had a pregame talk, and it was like every other game. Then Coach got emotional and said the seniors would be starting.

“I put on that uniform with a lot of pride. I never thought I would do that again. I can’t describe the feeling. I will remember that the rest of my life, going out with the other seniors.”

Junior forward Maurice Ndour subbed for Johnson four seconds after tip-off. Christian told the officials about the plan. Kent State coach Rob Senderoff asked that Ohio not be charged with a timeout.

Johnson always will have a spot in Christian’s heart because he has made every meeting, practice and game. He greets teammates as they walk off the floor for timeouts, and he rides the buses to and from away games.

“I’m still part of the team despite the injury,” he said. “I’ve been playing basketball my whole life, and I’ve been on a team my whole life. We call ourselves ‘The Pack,’ and I’m part of that pack.”

Johnson was never a big scorer or rebounder. His value was as a defender, ball-mover and emotional catalyst. He played in 115 games in four seasons.

He will jump at the chance to play professional basketball, but if that doesn’t pan out, he will pursue coaching.

“I’m going to graduate this spring with a degree in communications, and I’m planning to go to graduate school if I’m not involved in basketball,” Johnson said.

Thorpe NCAC player of year

Wooster guard Doug Thorpe, a senior from Eastmoor Academy, was voted player of the year by coaches in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

Thorpe averaged 14.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists for a team that won the conference regular-season and tournament championships and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament.

Freshman Beidelman wins league honor

Mount Vernon Nazarene center Megan Beidelman was picked co-freshman of the year in the Crossroads League.